At Scott Gorski Aviation, we offer a comprehensive Stall Spin Awareness Flight Training Course that will give you the confidence and skills to recognize and avoid stalls, spins, and other unusual attitudes in the air.
We use a fully aerobatic Decathlon 8KCAB for your training, with tandem seating and stick control to ensure you get the most out of your experience. You’ll receive ground instruction on safety procedures and recognition of upsets, stalls, and spins.
During the four lessons, you’ll learn climbing Dutch rolls, turns and slow flight, stalls (power on and power off), and rudder stall exercises. We’ll introduce you to one-turn spins in Lesson One, and in Lesson Two, you’ll review one-turn spins left and right, two-turn spins left and right, spin orientation, and a 180° power off approach to land.
Lesson Three will cover spin dynamics, selected aggravated spin modes, and unusual attitudes – spin recoveries, while Lesson Four will teach you about incipient spin entries, skidded turns, critical flight operations, spirals, and a 180° power-off approach to land.
For more information about pricing and duration, visit the spin training course section.
Sign up for our Stall Spin Awareness Flight Training Course today and experience the thrill of flying while gaining valuable skills that will keep you safe in the air. And don’t forget to bundle with our other packages to receive a discount!
General Information about Spin Training
As pilots, we rely on our aircrafts to transport us from one destination to another, sometimes in less-than-ideal conditions. It is for this reason that spin training is crucial for every pilot. In this article, we will discuss what spins are and why spin training is important, how spin recovery works, what causes spins and stall-related incidents, how to prevent inadvertent stalls, and what training pilots should seek for spin recovery.
What is a Spin and Why is Spin Training Important?
Definition of a Spin
The term “spin” refers to a maneuver wherein the aircraft descends rapidly as it follows a corkscrew path downward. The direction of the spin depends on the control inputs made by the pilot. A spin occurs when an airplane exceeds its critical angle of attack and loses altitude rapidly.
Importance of Spin Training
Spin training is essential for all pilots as it prepares them to handle any situation related to stalls and spins. It trains pilots to recognize spin entry situations, apply proper recovery techniques, and ultimately prevent the aircraft from entering into a spin. Pilots must be ready to react correctly if a spin occurs during flight training or regular flight conditions.
How Does Spin Recovery Work?
Overview of Spin Recovery Procedure
The spin recovery procedure involves three steps that every pilot should know. These steps are: power to idle, ailerons neutral, and elevator forward. Pilots must follow these steps to avoid an unrecoverable spin.
Power to Idle
The first step in the spin recovery procedure is to reduce the engine power to idle. This action reduces the airflow over the wings, which can help decrease the angle of attack and prevent the aircraft from stalling.
Ailerons Neutral
The second step is to ensure that the ailerons are placed in a neutral position, which means they are neither banked left nor right. This action prevents the aircraft from entering into a spin when rolling and yawing.
Elevator Forward
The last step in the spin recovery procedure is to push the elevator forward, which helps to lower the aircraft’s nose. Lowering the nose reduces the angle of attack and prevents the aircraft from stalling.
What Causes Spins and Stall-Related Incidents?
Definition of Stall and How it Relates to Spins
A stall is an aerodynamic phenomenon that occurs when the angle of attack becomes too high, and the airflow over the wings separates, resulting in a loss of lift. It is estimated that about 20% of all fatal airplane accidents are caused by stalls. In some cases, a stall can lead to a spin from which recovery can be difficult.
Role of Rudder in Spin Entry
When an aircraft stalls, it can enter into a spin if the pilot applies more rudder than necessary to correct for the yaw. The excessive rudder can cause the aircraft to spin uncontrollably, making it challenging to recover.
Role of Ailerons in Stall Prevention
Proper use of the ailerons can help prevent a stall from occurring in the first place. Using the ailerons to keep the wings level ensures that the aircraft is flying straight. This action is vital when slowing down in preparation for landing because it can help prevent a stall from happening.
How Do You Prevent Inadvertent Stalls?
Avoiding Aggravated Stalls in Flight Training
Aggravated stalls can lead to spins, which can cause a loss of control of the aircraft. To prevent aggravated stalls, pilots need to maintain control over the aircraft by applying coordinated control inputs and maintaining a safe altitude.
Proper Pitch and Power Control in the Aircraft
Pilots must maintain proper pitch and power control when flying an aircraft. When a pilot raises the nose of an aircraft, the angle of attack increases, increasing the risk of a stall. The application of power to the engine can help maintain airspeed and reduce the potential for a stall, making it easier to recover from an inadvertent stall.
Importance of Maintaining Coordination with the Rudder
Maintaining coordination between the rudder and ailerons is crucial for preventing a stall. Coordination means using the pedals and the yoke together to control the aircraft’s movements. Pilots must learn to use the rudder and ailerons in conjunction to keep the aircraft flying straight and level.
What Training Should Pilots Seek for Spin Recovery?
Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) Qualifications for Spin Training
Spin recovery training can only be provided by certified flight instructors (CFI). CFIs are required to undergo rigorous training to teach pilots proper recovery techniques that help prevent unrecoverable spins. Pilots should seek a CFI who has experience with spin training to ensure high-quality instruction.
Choosing a Comprehensive Spin Training Program
A comprehensive spin recovery training program can provide a pilot with the necessary skills to recognize spin entry situations and execute the correct recovery techniques. Comprehensive training programs cover all aspects of spins, including recognition, entry, and recovery, and often include ground training and flight training.
Role of Aircraft in Spin Recovery Training
The type of aircraft used in spin recovery training can have a significant impact on the student’s experience. Aircraft that feature stable flight characteristics and predictable handling can make the training process safer and more comfortable for the pilot.
Conclusion
In conclusion, spin training is an essential aspect of flight training. By learning the causes of stalls and understanding how spins can occur, pilots can prevent these incidents from happening. Additionally, knowledge of spin recovery techniques can help a pilot recover from a spin in a safe and controlled manner. By seeking qualified instructors and comprehensive spin recovery training programs, pilots can gain the knowledge necessary to keep their aircraft, and their passengers, safe.
Spin Recovery Training Course
Our instructors are highly skilled in teaching you spin & upset recovery and transferring that knowledge to make you comfortable in recovering from stall/spins. The course and cost are similar to the Upset/Unusual Attitude & Spin Training, but with an emphasis on how to effectively teach your students stall/spin awareness and how to recover from anything a student might surprise you with.
Course Cost
$799
A $250 deposit confirms your position on the training schedule. The balance is due ten days prior to the start of your program. Payments are not refundable but can be used for rescheduling within 6 months. We accept cash, checks, Venmo, MasterCard and Visa.
Bundle and Save: If you bundle two or more packages, you will receive a discount.
STALL SPIN AWARENESS
Lesson One
- Climbing Dutch Rolls
- Turns & Slow Flight
- Stalls – Power On & Power Off
- Rudder Stall Exercise
- Introduce One-Turn Spin
Lesson Two
- Review
- One-Turn Spins Left & Right
- Two-Turn Spins Left & Right
- Spin Orientation
- 180° Power Off Approach to Land
Lesson Three
- Review Spins
- Spin Dynamics
- Selected Aggravated Spin Modes
- Unusual Attitudes – Spin Recoveries
- 180° Power Off Approach to Land
Lesson Four
- Incipient Spin Entries
- Skidded Turns
- Critical Flight Operations
- Cross Control Stalls
- 180° Power Off Approach to Land
- Accelerated Stalls